Ahmed Sidi Aleywa was issued a citation by New Orleans police for simple criminal damage and was terminated from his job at Mr. Quicky's convenience store, according to WWLTV.

Sidi Alewya put a boot on the ambulance Friday while crews were helping a man inside the store who has having a life-threatening medical problem.

A police report said that Side Alewya didn't realize that he had booted an ambulance and added that he doesn't speak English.

Comments

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Lisa BellMonday, December 03, 2012 3:46:44 PMhere is a simple question.... how do you NOT know you booted an ambulance? I mean its a big white box with flashy lights and the word AMBULANCE written on it.

Chris StarkeyMonday, December 03, 2012 3:47:33 PMeven if he doesn't speek english I think he could have realized it was an emregancy vehical.
if you dropped me anywere in the world I could spot and emergancy vehical by the lights stickers oh and the people with uniforms and the cot coming out of it.

Mike RobinsonMonday, December 03, 2012 3:49:28 PMDidin't know it was an AMBULANCE...yeah right, red lights and all....how stupid can you be...lol.

Chris StarkeyMonday, December 03, 2012 3:51:18 PMI'm so glad I'm not hte only one that trhought like this. but my lord does somoebody make hure this operson is safe by him self. he needs to fill out an I D 10 T form for corprate ( idiot ).

David SenaMonday, December 03, 2012 3:55:08 PMI don't speak Arabic, and I know what an ambulance looks like here in Kuwait.

John D. LunaMonday, December 03, 2012 3:59:32 PMI wonder how ambulances look like in the country where he's from

James A. PoitrasMonday, December 03, 2012 4:01:29 PMSpeak english or not he had the emergency personel in his store, the Vehicle had medical markings and red flashing lights. Come on, really did not know? His firing was the right move. I would have fired him just for being an Idiot.

Kevin CarpenterMonday, December 03, 2012 4:08:11 PMbull shit! he knew what he done...

Rick HiltonMonday, December 03, 2012 4:11:59 PMWell if he is unable to speak the language, then why was he given the power to "boot" a vehicle.

John GleichweitMonday, December 03, 2012 4:12:53 PMAmbulances look like ambulances, no matter where you are. I'm not a world traveler, but I could point out an ambulance, fire apparatus, or police vehicle wherever I got dropped.

Johnny CarpenterMonday, December 03, 2012 4:18:00 PMReally, no matter where you go in this world, ambulances are ambulances..... Flashing lights, lots of noise, they maybe painted different, with different markings, but really.... This action has much more behind it.

Brad Bear BorstMonday, December 03, 2012 4:18:13 PMIf he doesn't speak English how the hell does he deal with customers? And how did he not realize it was an ambulance? they look the same the world over.

Matt DonnellMonday, December 03, 2012 4:43:14 PMI guess the experts are right, those flashing lights don't make a bit of difference. Anecdotal, I have always been amazed at the number of people who have mistaken my box as being a bakery delivery truck.
Gimme back my Cadillac!

Tom WebsterMonday, December 03, 2012 4:46:14 PMThe ambulances look just like the ones in the middle east... Except for the lettering... as Walter would say, "DUMBASS"....

Walter LongMonday, December 03, 2012 4:50:59 PMThe guy can't speak English,odds are he can't READ English either so the word "AMBULANCE' written on the side of the vehicle meant nothing to him..
I see your point but read the article.

Scott HayesMonday, December 03, 2012 5:00:15 PMsend his ass back to his own country.

Gary WesolowskiMonday, December 03, 2012 5:08:55 PMI have been a paramedic well over 20 years. Have seen some of the most ignorant people in that period. If this moron can't figure out that booting an ambulance is wrong then literacy is the least of his problems. Send the idiot back our gene pool is shallow enough.

Joe GuendertMonday, December 03, 2012 5:15:05 PMYou can recognize one but the real question is... can you spell "emergency" OR "vehicle"?

Sharon McGeheeMonday, December 03, 2012 5:30:26 PMHow did he not know he booted an ambulance? I mean seriously! Did he not see the medics in side helping a patient and not to mention the big flashing lights! Does this man live in a bubble? It does not take long even if you are from another country to realize its an emergency vehicle.

Ems PulseMonday, December 03, 2012 5:31:52 PMEmergency lights in any country all mean the same thing. He probably thought he was being cute, and it cost him as it should.

Ron HarpMonday, December 03, 2012 6:19:02 PMIf he can't speak English, why the hell is he working in a Convenience store?

Ray Rivera Jr.Monday, December 03, 2012 6:19:26 PMThat was an act of terrorism

Lynn FossMonday, December 03, 2012 6:33:09 PMThis was shear stupidity and the fact that he does not speak English has no bearing on it. Sometimes common sense has to prevail. Also, since when should a store be allowed to "boot" a vehicle. Shouldn't that be up to the police department?

Annmarie GadboisMonday, December 03, 2012 7:08:04 PMor work in a convenience store in the US wouldn't he have to read things behind the register or elsewhere in the store?

Katie GoldmanMonday, December 03, 2012 7:17:10 PMLAME A$ excuse! I don't care if you don't speak English! #1 You work at a convenience store, you're not a cop or parking enforcement officer, so you shouldn't be "booting" anything! #2 BS you didn't know it was an ambulance! I think it's hilarious and deserved that in the end, he got BOOTED!

Thomas BardenMonday, December 03, 2012 7:32:45 PMHow about booting the store owners for hiring some one like that?

Shawn DavisMonday, December 03, 2012 7:37:06 PMWell this is just another reason they don't deserve to be here in this country.

David BostonMonday, December 03, 2012 7:37:13 PMUm, the flashing lights and siren when they pulled up weren't a clue? How about the star of life which is recognized all over the world? oh ok just checking.

Bob UmphredMonday, December 03, 2012 7:50:04 PMCome on Shawn, can't go condemning a whole group of people because of a few jerks. Wonder how many people the Italian Mafia killed, do the Italians not belong here? The Irish Drunks, The Germans for World War 2. Look at many of the terror acts done in this country, most done by white Americans.

Jeff MartinMonday, December 03, 2012 9:29:12 PMDiddn't realize he booted an ambulance? WTF? This guy makes dumba## of the year. Weren't the flashing lights be a clue not to boot the vehicle doesn't speak english yet he works in this country.......learn the language........get a clue.

Lorrie CarlsonTuesday, December 04, 2012 3:07:18 AMso why did the emt get fired? that is so not fair..he's an American doing his job and saving lives and paying taxes yet the convenience store owner "Can't read English" is he paying his taxes?

Robby HubTuesday, December 04, 2012 8:49:37 AMEver seen foreign ambulances? Ambulance has very similar spelling in many languages.

Brian HowardTuesday, December 04, 2012 1:20:35 PMAs Private Property Owners they have the right to enforce parking on their property. I'm not defending them in this case but this is common practice around the Country.

Frank CantoneTuesday, December 04, 2012 4:21:10 PM This arab piece of shit knew exactly what he did, they hate Americans!

Frank CantoneTuesday, December 04, 2012 4:26:41 PMLets be real people, stop justifying this behavior, this patient could have died, then his family sues everyone. We go out everyday to help sick people,putting our lives at risk. We as ems are the least respected andmost unerpaid in public service,why wasnt he arrested and charged with felony charges? Put a boot on a cop car and see what happens

Anne Krippner Akers FalaschiTuesday, December 04, 2012 4:56:15 PMEveryone else has pretty much said what I think about this except where someone commented that it was a common practice around the country to "boot" to protect the store's parking, but PLEASE! That guy is a moron and.....how does he run a store without speaking or reading ENGLISH!

Katrina Armanda NadeauTuesday, December 04, 2012 5:21:22 PMjust one more anti american free to walk this nation.

Jeff HamlinTuesday, December 04, 2012 6:02:06 PMThe comments referring to Mr. Starkey's spelling are uncalled for and immaterial to the discussion.

Doug TorresTuesday, December 04, 2012 6:28:13 PMThen learn english if you want to live in this country.

Ida MosesTuesday, December 04, 2012 6:39:37 PM...and what did he think about the lights and medical symbols on the ambulance...and why are we allowing people to immigrate and work if they cannot speak or read English (if he is a legal immigrant?)

Doug HouseTuesday, December 04, 2012 7:40:46 PMIf he doesn't speak English, I wonder how he got a green card or citizenship. Is he allowed to work in the U.S.

Donna Graham HammondTuesday, December 04, 2012 7:43:04 PMAren't ambulances all over the world almost the same? They are usually designed with similiar lights and star of life because of language barrier.

Bruce HennequinTuesday, December 04, 2012 7:54:42 PMSo now, when its convenient, no speaky English is a defense yet racist when we say they should learn the language of the land

Robert HutsonTuesday, December 04, 2012 8:23:26 PMMay have the right, but this acion could get someone killed in some communities I have been i.

Jack StevensTuesday, December 04, 2012 9:10:30 PMHere in Ohio that would be a felony for disrupting public services.

Zoey Bear TurTuesday, December 04, 2012 9:46:35 PMBECAUSE HE GETS A KICKBACK FOR EVERY BOOT FEE... That's why he booted the big truck with the Infidel lights. M-O-N-E-Y.

Kellye De La RosaTuesday, December 04, 2012 9:52:01 PMThat ass needs to learn English should go back to work came from!

Charles HenkeTuesday, December 04, 2012 10:45:10 PM"Side Alewya didn't realize that he had booted an ambulance and added that he doesn't speak English."

Deborah Baldwin PhillipsWednesday, December 05, 2012 12:00:38 AMJeff Hamlin - thank you for your insightful comments about this most unfortunate incident. We are all outsiders looking in. I feel there is probably more to this story than what is printed.

Bruce HennequinWednesday, December 05, 2012 4:22:04 AMWould some of you people read what you plan to post BEFORE you post it? Please! Some of you sound like the redneck bigots the liberal media says this country is full of. Maybe this guy made a mistake, maybe he did it intentionally but "an act of terrorism", c'mon. Use the brain the Lord gave you and THINK for a change. If you are on this page, you likely have something to do with public safety and that means that you have at 'least a lick of sense'....quit being the stereotype....JEEZ. And R E A D the article BEFORE you comment on the headline....

Lorrie CarlsonWednesday, December 05, 2012 5:09:16 AMFurthermoe, aren''t the only people who can "boot" a vehicle supposed to be law enforements..not a store owner......Hmmm.....The police would NOT boot an ambulance and why does he have one in the first place..isn't that illegal? He needs to answer for this..not the American who lost his job!

Kevin McDonaldWednesday, December 05, 2012 5:43:44 AMAh yes, "foreign ambulances": yank 'em off the curb, ball 'em up & pitch 'em in, 110 mph down the road, takin turns on two wheels, skid to a stop and finally drag whatever is left inside while screaming at the top of yer lungs! No, they had no idea what they were looking at. Be glad he wasn't placing a VBIED.

Wednesday, December 05, 2012 5:58:36 AMThis is why the world community has standards across the globe....the Red Crescent, Red Cross, Star of Life, etc..if you look at the Ambulance it was clearly marked....which indicates that the vehicle's operators can render their given level of care represented on the six pointed star. It makes no difference if the man spoke English or not the red/blue and clear flashing lights (which the articles say were activated) should have been an indicator.....sounds like this gent wanted to just boot a vehicle...The active visual warnings (AVW) are usually in the form of flashing coloured lights (also known as 'beacons' or 'lightbars'). As a career Marine I have been in 22 countries and they are all the same no matter the language....an Ambulance is an Ambulance be it a Ford/Chev Pickup truck in South America to a van in Lebanon...............

Brandon TurnbowWednesday, December 05, 2012 7:17:24 AMAnother cool common practice around the country is to speak English... just sayin

Amanda TutoloWednesday, December 05, 2012 7:24:53 AMambulances all over the world look pretty much the same, except for the shape of the vehicle. plus, the lights were on while they were inside. theres no way this guy didnt know what he was doing.

Amanda TutoloWednesday, December 05, 2012 7:27:16 AMjeff is the comment police. dont say anything out of line or he will let you know.

Sean Alan MorrisWednesday, December 05, 2012 8:02:31 AM Brian Howard, it may be common in New Orleans, but I'd wager one of the reasons people are so incredulous about this, is because the practice is not that common around the country. It is certainly news to me, and I've been all around this great country of ours. Not that this makes me any type of authority on this sort of thing, I just doubt it would be tolerated on a national level.

Roy ButtronWednesday, December 05, 2012 8:45:33 AMAn ambulance is an ambulance in any country..they basically ALL look the same, there are americans that cant read, but they know what an ambulance is..

Dan MoralesWednesday, December 05, 2012 9:30:23 AMWhere's Border Patrol? Or are we just after mexicans.

Robin PrintyWednesday, December 05, 2012 1:58:54 PMAnd I thought the Meter Maids in nre York were stupid! Why are civilians being allowed to boot vehicles, and why doesn't this civilian attempt to learn English?

Robert KasperWednesday, December 05, 2012 4:11:15 PMHopefully Sidi Alewya will now have the time to learn, speak, read and understand English. I want him to understand what a petty, mean spirited, small minded jerk he really is......

Matt LaLoneWednesday, December 05, 2012 7:45:14 PMI'd have to say the part that got me the most is that the Medics were in the Quicky store tending to a patient, so how did Mr. Aleywa not notice the commotion in his own store?

Stephan SaintThursday, December 06, 2012 5:41:13 AM Christopher Maloney: The ambo wasn't parked on the street, it was in the parking lot, which IS private property.
Doesn't make it any better though.

Friday, December 07, 2012 1:01:34 AMJustice prevails, not only is the ex-employee who did the booting fired. The fact that this store will go out of it's way to prevent customer's who may need the police, the fire department or the ambulance. No one is ever going to be going to Mr. Quicky's convenience store, such is the curse these two news articles will bring the store's owners for hiring someone who is so unqualified for the job.

Sean P JonesFriday, December 07, 2012 4:10:20 PMCause he has to support himself somehow.

Robert GiftSaturday, December 08, 2012 4:55:06 PMNeeds to speak English to recognize that IT'S AN AMBULANCE, MORON?

Sue SpaldingSunday, December 09, 2012 8:45:08 PMno doubt, I have been in several countries, and the 1 thing I always do is take pictures of the police fire and EMS vehicles. it's pretty easy to tell which is which.
even when I was in Venice, and the emergency response vehicles were boats.
That has to be the lamest excuse I've ever heard.

Sue SpaldingSunday, December 09, 2012 8:52:12 PMyeah most of them have orange instead of red paint maybe. the European countries tend to use the Mercedes models. maybe their lights are blue instead of red. but of all the countries have been to their very distinctive

Sue SpaldingSunday, December 09, 2012 9:07:05 PMin case anyone is interested in all the different ways ambulance appears in every language of the world, check out Babylon

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 5:34:59 AMNot speaking english is no excuse, how do you not know there is a person with life threatening problem inside your own store with uniformed EMTs standing around him with all their gear and a gurney? Then there is the Ambulance parked outside, highly visible, can not be confused for anything else.... EVER, all of them have some sort of emblem or icon plastered all over them like the star of life which is only put on ambulances let alone the flashy lights and the obvious visible color usually Red, White or occasionally, yellow. I say the employee knew the person or was angry with the EMT crew from a previous visit or incident and wanted to get revenge. He is just pulling his "I don't speak English" card as a BS excuse. I don't buy it for a second. It was intentional, has to be. He deserved to get fired.

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